Just acquiring one of the world's only and Australia's first '3D Bio-Plotting' machines, the university is helping to develop artificial organs such as skin, kidneys and bladders using the new 3D printing technology.

As Dr Robert Gorkin, a research fellow at the university explained, the machine has the ability to print and create 3D components that can include biological matter.

"We are looking at actually printing cells and proteins in the quest to recreate synthetic artificial tissues and organs."

And although major artificial organs like kidneys and bladders may not be common place yet, Dr Gorkin said printed skin is well on the way.

"There is some stuff that is on the close horizon like skin printing [where] a few companies will have a few things out soon hopefully."

Dr Gorkin also added that the university is helping to lay the type of small foundations required to even develop an artifical heart.

"It will be a far off point to get an artificial heart but that is some of the research we are trying to do here.

"[We're] trying to build the fundamental building blocks so it will enable that in 20 years, we might see it."

Not just specialising in trying to make organs, the university has a number of other machines that they can already use to print out 3D objects.

As another research fellow at the university, Dr. Stephen Beirne said, the technology can make plastic and metal objects by starting off with a drawing and creating it one layer at a time.

"We are now actually building components layer upon layer," he said.

"So you are taking a three-dimensional object, cutting it into fine slices and then printing each one of those fine silences on top of each other."

With the possibility of producing an array of different 3D-objects, Dr Beirne said the technology is useful for manufacturers as it allows them to create prototypes quickly, with the technology only getting better.

"Speed is coming down the whole time," he said.

"Each one of the manufacturers is developing newer machines, targeting either increased speed or increased build volume."

Hoping to develop 3D-printing technology and research further, a new alliance has been developed at the university between the Australian Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, the Advanced Manufacturing Co-operative Research Centre and the Australian National Fabrication Facility.

The aim of the alliance is to give the organisations access to each other.

It's hoped they will be able to get new research and resources to industry and end-users at a quicker pace.

It is also a goal that the alliance will lead to global partnerships and provide opportunities for local industry in additive manufacturing.